subject: HVAC Air Quality 1 [print this page] Your home's heating and air conditioning system is a vital to your comfort. But did you know it's vital to your health?
Your HVAC system not only keeps your house at a comfortable temperature, but it helps to keep your indoor air clean and free of potentially harmful contaminants.
However, if your HVAC system isn't properly maintained, it can actually degrade your indoor air quality and affect your health.
For instance, if your heating or air conditioning system sprouts a leak and components of your HVAC system become moist or wet, they can sprout "microbial growth" -- better known as mould.
Your HVAC system can then pump the mould-infested air into your home. Some types of mould can cause allergic reactions in some people, as well as other health problems.
Mould spreads in damp environments. The mould spores ingest water and reproduce quickly. These spores can then travel through the air in your HVAC and you can eventually ingest them by breathing them in.
While mould can grow on anything from walls, to carpets, to food, it can be a particularly difficult problem in your HVAC system -- which operates largely out of sight.
Mould can have a detrimental effect on your indoor air quality and, consequently, your health.
A thorough and proper duct cleaning can dramatically improve your indoor air quality by getting rid of harmful mould.
Consider having your ducts and HVAC system clean if you can see mould growing on the sheet metal or other components of your heating and air conditioning system.
Keep in mind that many components of your HVAC system can't be seen by the average person. They are hidden from view and require investigation by a professional service provide.
As well, not everything that looks like mould is actually harmful to your health. An expert HVAC service provider can examine your heating and cooling system and determine whether you truly have mould contamination.
However, if your air ducts are insulated and the insulation gets wet and mouldy, it will need to be entirely replaced and you should hire a company that can fix the leak that is affecting in your insulation.
It's not only mould that can have a harmful effect on your indoor air quality and your health. You should also have your ducts cleaned if they are infested with bugs or mice or if they are clogged with dust and other debris -- especially if you can see your HVAC system pumping dust into the air.
Some service providers also recommend applying chemical biocides to the inside of your duct work, as well as other sections of your heating and air conditioning system. These biocides are able to kill microbial contaminants and prevent mould from growing again and contaminating your indoor air quality once more.
But if you opt to have your HVAC service provider apply an anti-microbial biocide, be sure they conduct a thorough cleaning of your heating and air conditioning system first.
Aside from improving your indoor air quality, cleaning your HVAC system can improve its efficiency, extending its life and lowering your costs.